Cycling & Motor Notes

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 44

Cycling & Motor Notes

BY DEMON.

Although storage accumulators should normally remain dry on the outside, a little lio.uid or moisture sometimes escapes. This, being sulphurio acid, is very destructive, and should not bo allowed to remain on any part of the car. To neutralise and remove it a solution of ammonia or wash-

ing soda may be applied. It is most destructive to wearing apparel. We wonder, says the Light Car (England), if it has ever occurred to the British motor industry, the trade bodies, and the Board of Trade just what would happen if American production of motor' cars exceeded the home demand? Everything is tending that way, and we predict that, sooner or later, the enormous development of American car factories can have only one end —a supply far and away exceeding the demand. There are signs that that end is not far off. Already certain factories in America have been obliged to slacken off, and the sales of cars have been seriously interfered with by the demand for the Liberty Loan. It must not bo imagined that the enterprise and development of tho factories in the United States have been curtailed by war demands, as in this country. They have not. Sooner or later a crisis will be reached, and then — the dumping of surplus stocks wherever they can be dumped. At present the surplus of cars would have to be got rid of in our colonies; but when the import restrictions are removed they would flood this country. It is thus seen 'that there is imperative need for the Bill, now beforo Parliament, for continuing restrictions for three years after the war, if there is not the necessity for imposing a prohibitive tariff for some time after that. And we should like to see the colonies. set their faces against the unrestricted dumping of foreign goods to the detriment of future Imperial trade. Some interesting figures have been issued by the Motor Traders' Association of New South Wales. At the end of 1917 there were 17,508 cars in use in New South Wales, as against 1*L175 on December 31, 1916. Motor . cycles have also grown in popularity, the latest figures being 8087 as against 7070 the previous year. -The registered drivers jumped from 22,598 to 27,958 and motor cycle riders from "9444 to 10,067. The growing 'use of commercial vehicles >s represented by an increase from 845 to 1336. Considering the war conditions and the scarcity of shipping, the above figures show a surprising increase. ——lt i s generally accepted in motoring circles in England that coal gas as a motor fuel is no mere war-time expedient, but has great possibilities after the war, and has come to .stay. Its very cheapness makes it a serious rival to petrol, for, under present conditions, petrol would have to bo sold at about lOd per gallon to compete with it. At present coal gas is denuded of many valuable constituents; when, on the cessation of hostilities, these constituents are no longer needed for the manufacture of explosives, the gas will be richer and will give an appreciably greater mileage per hundred cubic feet, thus in effect further cheapening gas considered as a fuel. It should also be possible for the gas companies to reduce prices in view of the increased demand. It is probably true that the atmospheric or gas-bag method of conveying the gas is merely a war-time expedient—at least so far as private vehicles are concerned, where space is not abundant. This will render it necessary to install comDressors, and the cost of compressed gas"will naturally be slightly higher than where it is taken at ordinary pressures. With, the development of gas pressure systems, however, we may see high-pressure gas mains installed in our larger and mora progressive cities, with every modern garage having its-connection to the high-pressure gas supply. With the growing use of gas, it will not be long beforo motor car bodies are specially designed to carry a number of gas reservoirs out of sight—under the seats or in the boot of single-seated cars. With four containers stowed away a light car could run about 240 miles without any need of recharging. A nreesure gauge on the dashboard would tell" at a glance how much fuel remained in the reservoirs. Another advantage that gas fuel offers is the .nso of same for illuminating purposes. It should prove even simpler than electric lightning. In fact, gas fuel has big possibilities in a motoring connection. The history of tho accumulator as adapted to the uses of motoring is a somewhat curious one. First, there was the early period in which ignition by battery and coil was the standard fitting on all cars and motor cycles. Those motorists who passed through that eventful time - : " still

rave memories of what the accumulator of those days was; the badly-made plates which would not hold their charge, >.the leaky cases, the voltmeter tests before starting a journey, and the uncertain recharging. With the coming of the magneto the accumulator rapidly disappeared, and there were probably many owners who were devoutly thankful for its decease; but within recent years the popularity for electric lighting and starting sets has caused it to be reintroduced in a somewhat different function —that of providing a reserve of electricity when, charged by a power supply on the car itself. The success of this modern system has even induced certain manufacturers m America to discard the magneto, and to return to the original idea of coil ignition, obtaining all current for lighting, starting and ignition by means of the dynamo. Despite all these changes, the principle of the accumulator in its most common form, tho lead and grid type, is unaltered; and although the modern accumulator is infinetely superior in every way, is still a delicate apparatus, which well repays regular attention and a proper understanding of its part icnlar weaknesses. "When the Kinsr and Queen recently visited aircraft works at Hendon, MiThomas Ross, who has an 18-year-old boy in tho> King's Royal Rifles, asked His Majesty to transfer him to the Royal Engineers or. account of his mechanical ability. The father hoped the King would be good enough to manage it for him. His Majesty laughed heartily at the request, and, while not making any promise, asked one of the officers in attendance to note the man's wishes and to see if anything could bo done to meet them. Experiments that have been made by Professors Carpenter and Sawdon at Cornell "University r,r> determine whether lubricating oil "wears out" when used continuously in circulating systems have- indicated that while tho oil gained in viscosity and gravity, 'due t-O it? volatile constituents having been driven off by the hcafc in tho bearings, nevertheless the friction tests gave a slightly lower coefficient nf friction at low pressures and a slightly higher coefficient for high-

II

: bearing pressures with samples taken from a well-designed central.

A SENSIBLE ACTIM. The West Australian Education Depart ment has given orders that all children attending public schools should be taught the following "don'ts": —Don't rush out on road from school. Look out for motors before crossing Don's play on the road. If motor car is approaching, wait until it passes before crossing. Don't throw stones or anything at motors. Keep on the footpath if motor is coming. Look up and down for motors before crossing. DoA't cross the road between tramcars or carts. Don't hang behind motor cars or carts on any account. Don't run in front of motors, even in play; you are sure to get hurt. When crossing street or road, see that no car or cart is coming, and then -walk as qxiickly as possible. Don't stand in the street. Motor cars, like bolting horses, are dangerous; keep as far away from them as you can. If you see younger children than yourself on the road, tell them to keep on the footpath Don't shout out to passing motors. If a motor is approaching, all children crossing: should go the same way. Don't race a motor car. OTACO MOTOR CLUB. Tho monthly meeting of members of the Otago Motor Club was held' on the 12th. Tho vice-president (Mr A. E. Ansell) occupied the chair, and there were about a dozen other members present. Mr T. Lane, inspector for the Waikouaiti County Council, wrote stating that it would require 1900 cubic yards of clay at an estimated cost of Is 9d or 2s per yard to finish the road from Karitane. to Morton 6tation. Tho work would cost about £3OO, including timber for the embankment.—lt was deoided to writo to the Waikouaiti Council asking if it would go on with the ■work, provided the club could raise £IOO. Tho Waikouaiti County Council forwarded the followinor resolution, which was passed at a recent meeting: " That the Motor dub b& thanked for ita pro-

mised donation.of a further sum of £SO to county funds to help to pay the cost of repairing tho main north road; that while the council cannot undertako to help its surfaceman on the road continuously for three, months, the council -will endeavour to have a man to attend to the road -as often as possible; that the council would point out to the olub that the original proposal •was to contribute a sum of £SOO to repair this road, but through extra work being done it will now cost tho county nearly £600; that tho county surfaceman will erect notice boards on tho main north road when tho same aro sent forward by the Motor Club."—lt was resolved: "That a deputation, consisting of the president, Mr Stoveivson, and. Mr Wilson, wait on the Waikouaiti County Council regarding tho club's offer of £SO to tho upkeep of the main north road." Tho Roads. Committee reported as follows: The Waihemo County Council wrote under date February 4 stating that signposts had been erected at tho end of tho road known as Fleming's, about half a mile north of the Shag River bridge, requesting motorists to use tho liorso Range roadThe road is now in fair order for motorists in fine weather. Motorists are asked to use tho road to save as far as possible Fleming's road. The committeo recommended that motorists' attention he called to tho road in question. Tho committee reported that a letter had been received from Mr G. W. Gough, under date January 3*. drawing attention to tho state of portions of tho road at Silvcrstreahi,.ncar Irishman's upper gate, and also the sand cutting further on. It was pointed out that a little work would greatly assist,* in negotiating two slipping and dangerous parte. Mr Leishman had signified his willingness to assist by carting a portion of the gravel. A largo number of motorists used tho road, which led to one of the most chai-ming picnic and holiday resorts near Dunedin. Tho committeo recommended that the Taieri County Council be informed that tho Motor Club would donate £2 2s towards tho cost of parrying out improvements on tho road in question. —lt was decided to donate £3 3s to the cost of this work. Mr Stevenson reported that signs had .been erected on the Brighton road whero 'required, limiting the speed of motorists to six and 15. miles per hour. The thanks of tho club woro due to Mr A. Fogo for the painting of the signs gratis. As a very reasonable speed limit had been passed for this pop'ular road, motorists were requested to carefully abide by it, so as to conserve tho road and avert any chance of accidents occurring. Tho Dunedin Returned Soldier's'' Association wrote stating that it was proposed to prosecute a campaign throiig-hout the district for the purpose of procuring funds to erect a memorial club in Dunedin. For this purpose tho sum of £20,000 would be required, and the association solicited tho assistance • of the Motor Club in the furtherance of the campaign.—lt was decided to inform tho association that the club did not think the proposal as set out. in the circular would bo a success, as tho majority of the -younger members of the club were absent at tho front and tho success of such a proposal depended largely on them. Mr Stevenson moved) that the club rescind the resolution passed at tho December meeting to contribute a share pro rata of the cost of tho appeal against the oonviction of motorists travelling at a speed of 12 miles per hour. Several members of the Wairarapa Motor Club were fined, and tho club had asked tho Otago Club to contribute towards the cost of appealing against tho decision. —Mr M'George seconded the motion. —Mr Wright said it was time that low speed limits woro abolished, and the club should approach tho City Council on tho matter. —Other speakers contended that tho present speed limit in the city was ridiculous. Tho speed limit ought to ho forwarded to 10 or 12 miles an hour. In America speed limits woro becoming un-' popular. ; A car running at a speed of 10 or 12 miles was more under command than it was at four miles an hour.—Another speaker said that if the low limits were abolished tho roads would bo infested with road hogs.—Tho motion to rescind was carried. —Mr Stevenson then moved that the letter from tho Wairarapa Club be received, —Mr Wilson moved, aa an amendment, that while tho club was not in favour of the present limits it was not in favour of abolishing them altogether, and that the whole question should bo gone into and made more suitable to meet present conditions.—The amendment was earned. Mr G. Moody moved that a danger sign bo erected on tho electric-light pole higher up than tho nrcsent danger polo in Hangman's Gully, North-East Valley.—lt was decided that an'additional sign bo erected on tho site suggested by Mr Moody.